Metallic folding pole



Patented Nov. 1l, 1924.

DANIEL E. DOREKOF LEBANON. PENNSYLVANIA.

METALLIC FOLDING POLE.

Application led January 5, 1924. Serial No. 664,550.v

To all y[rf/1.0m t 11mg/ concern Be it known that I, DANIEL E. Donn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metallic Folding Poles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to .a metallic folding pole having a wide range of usefulness as a flag pole, tent pole, clothes prop and the like.

In my copending application Serial Number 661,404, filed on the seventh day of September, 1923, I have disclosed a pole of the general character of that illust-rated in the present application.

Like the pole of my former application, the pole of the present invention comprises a plurality of sections liingedly connected to each other and adapted to be folded into nesting engagement with each other, said sections being provided with means for locking them into rigid alignment with each other when extended. The sections may be of any desired number and each individual section may be of any desired length.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in section of a tent supporting structure constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of a pole of general use, adapted to constitute a part of such tent structure;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged front view of one of the poles;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section;

Fig. 5 is a view showing the pole folded; and

Fig. 6 is a view on line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

For purposes of illustration I have shown the pole as consisting of three sections 5, 6 and 7, said sections being adapted to nest within each other because of their channel formation, as indicated in Figs. 5 and 6. The sections 5 and 6 each carry transversely disposed pins 8 which extend between and are supported in the side walls of said channel sections. The pins engage in pear shaped slots 9, one pin 8 engaging in such a slot formed in the lower end of the section 6, the corresponding pin of the section 6 engaging lin a similarly shaped slot 9a formed in the lower end of the section 7. By 1mparting an. endwise pull to the sections 6 and 7 these sections may be moved outwardas hinges to fold them to the position illusr trated in Figs. 5 and 6. In bringing the poles to erected position the sections are swung into alignment with each other and .then the uppermost sections are thrust bodily downward upon the base section 5 and this causes the pin 8 to ride upwardly or outwardly in the slots 9, 9'd and because ofthe inclined rear walls of said slots the section 6 is forced into wedging engagement with the section 5 and the section 7 is forced into wedging engagement with the section 6 so that the several sections are held in rigid longitudinal alignment with each other. rIhe ridge pole comprising the sections a, 6a and 7a is constructed in the manner just described and consequently it may be brought to folded position or to extended position. When in the latter position it will be in all respects the same as a continuous pole in so far as rigidity and strength is concerned. Where the structure is to be employed as a tent pole, I contemplate providing pins 12 upon the upper ends of the vertical section 7 which pins are adapted to enter sockets 13 formed in blocks 14 carried by the ridge pole, the ridge pole being provided with suitable openings 15 for the passage of these pins. The pins may, if desired, be carried by blocks 16 set into the upper ends of the section 7 but it is to be distinctly understood that the manner of providing these pins or extensions upon the upper ends of the section 7 may be varied within wide ranges without departure from the invention.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction set forth and that it is of general application. In other words, it is to be. understood that the pole herein shown and described is capable of use in any relation in which a pole may be employed.

When the pole is in folded position it occupies very little room and is admirably adapted for use by tourists traveling in automobiles and it may serve as a tent pole, flag pole, clothes prop, antenna support for portable wireless sets, etc.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

l. A pole of the character described comprising a plurality of elongated sections of channel formation, each upper sect-ion being adapted to nest Within the section below it, transverse pins carried by the sections and pear shaped slots Within which said pins engage, the disposition ot the slots being such that the action of the pins Will force the sections into Wedging engagement with each other upon longitudinal movement of the sections with respect to each other in one direction, the pins moving into enlarged portions of the slots upon movement of the sections With respect t0 each other in the opposite direction to thereby permit the sections to fold upon and nest Within each other.

2. A tent supporting structure comprising a pair of vertical end poles and a ridge pole, each of said poles comprising a plurality of elongated sections of' channel `lformation, and of dierent Widths whereby they are adapted to nest one Within the other, the ends of said sections being connected by pin and slot connections, said slots being of pear-shape and being so disposed as to cause the sections to be moved into Wedging engagement with each other upon movement of said sections longitudinally /with respect to each other in one direction, said pins moving into the enlarged portions of the slots when the sections are moved with respect to each other in the other direction to permit the sections to be.

lfoldcd into nestingcondition7 pins extending` vertically from the ends of the smaller sections ot the end poles and perforate members carried by the cuter sections oi the ric ge pole, adjacent the ends thereof which receive said pins.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

DANIEL E. DORE. 

